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Juan C. Sanchez-Arias, MD, PhD
Trained as medical doctor and neuroscientist, I’m currently investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cardiac arrythmias and seizures associated with a novel genetic variant in an ion channel adapter protein combining model organism research, clinical genetics and computational biology.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience
University of Victoria - Division of Medical Sciences
Victoria, BC, Canada
2020 - 2015
- Dissertation: Pannexin 1 regulates dendritic spine formation.
Doctor of Medicine (Médico y Cirujano)
Universidad del Valle - School of Medicine
Cali, Valle, Colombia
2014 - 2007
- Pre-Diploma Rotatory Internship: Hospital Universitario del Valle ESE - Universidad del Valle. Cali, Valle. Colombia.
- Professional elective: Neurosurgery and Neurocritical Care. Department of Neurosurgery. Hospital Universitario del Valle ESE - Universidad del Valle. Cali, Valle. Colombia.
- Observership: Functional Neurosurgery. Department of Neurosurgery. University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System. Chicago, IL. USA.
Research Experience
Postdoctoral Fellow - Michael Smith Health Research BC Awardee
Division of Medical Sciences
University of Victoria
Current - 2020
- Area of study: Inherited arrhythmias, community genetics, bioinformatics, ion channel biology, calcium homeostasis in cardiomyocytes.
- Roles: Project and data management, research execution, presentation of results, and grant and research writing.
- Techniques: RNA seq and microarray gene expression analysis using R and bioconductor tools (DESeq2, oligo, limma).
- Analysis of protein-protein interaction networks and pathway enrichment analysis using R and Cytoscape.
- Immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy of embryonic and adult mouse heart sections.
Graduate Research Assistant
Division of Medical Sciences
University of Victoria
2020 - 2015
- Area of study: Ion and metabolite channels, developmental neurobiology, channel trafficking, cytoskeletal dynamics, neural stem cells, advanced microscopy.
- Roles: Project and data management, research execution, presentation of results, and grant and research writing.
- Techniques: Fixed and live-cell fluorescence microscopy of cultured neurons. Immunocytochemistry. Super-resolution microscopy.
- Analysis of calcium imaging data from cultured neurons using MATLAB.
Research Medical Intern
Centro de Estudios Cerebrales
Universidad del Valle
2014 - 2013
- Area of study: functional neuroanatomy, cerebral cortex organization, traumatic brain injury, stroke, neuroprotection.
- Roles: Support and execution of experimental research on traumatic brain injury and ischemic stroke in rats.
- Techniques: Immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy of rat brain sections.
Undergraduate Medical Researcher
School of Public Health
Universidad del Valle
2011 - 2010
- Area of study: Cardiovascular risk health, spinal cord injury, rehabilitation medicine, public health.
- Roles: Project management, data management with Epi Info, research execution, grant and research writing, and presentation of results to stakeholders.
- Supported clinical assessment of patients in the spinal cord injury clinic.
Service & Leadership
Who Can Become a Scientist?
Co-founder and Co-organizer
University of Victoria
Current - 2021
- “Who can become a scientist?” is a workshop for high school students that discusses equity, diversity, and inclusion issues in STEMM.
- It reflects on the stereotypical image of scientists and the importance of leveraging support from role models and mentors to increase diversity in STEMM.
Let’s Talk Science
University of Victoria
Victoria, BC, Canada
Current - 2018
- Volunteer for public audience presentations and high school science tours.
CIHR Brain Bee
Victoria Chapter
Victoria, BC, Canada
Current - 2017
- Organize and coordinate social media outlets for the Victoria Brain Bee. Mentored high school students from the Greater Victoria Area who participated in the Brain Bee competition.
- Secured funding to sponsor Victoria Brain Bee winners traveling to the CIHR National Brain Bee.
Neuroscience Graduate Student Association (NGSA)
University of Victoria
Victoria, BC, Canada
2020 - 2017
- Student Representative - Division of Medical Sciences 2017-2018.
- Contributed to organizing the Neuroscience Graduate Program Kick-Off. Liaised and recruited keynote speakers for seminar lectures.
Other education
Curso Introductorio en Epidemiologia Genetica y Epigenetica
Universidad del Valle - School of Public Health
Virtual
2022 - 2022
- Two-week introductory course on Genetic Epidemiology and Epigenetics offered by the School of Public Health at Universidad del Valle
CodeinPlace 2021
Stanford University
Virtual
2021 - 2021
- April-May 2021: Completed a 5-week introductory online Python programming course based on material from the first half of Stanford’s introductory programming course, CS106A
- Project Showcase #153: BrainBeez